Cleric still inspired 17 years after meeting Desmond Tutu at Fort Garry church

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This article was published 29/12/2021 (1725 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the brief time he spent with Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bishop Geoffrey Woodcroft took home a message of peace that continues to inspire him 17 years later.

He was in awe as Tutu attended Sunday mass at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Fort Garry during the South African anti-apartheid fighter’s trip to Winnipeg in 2004.

In an interview with the Free Press earlier this week, Woodcroft, 60, reflected on that once-in-a-lifetime encounter after Tutu, 90, died Sunday at a care home in Cape Town.

“I felt I was in the presence of something really awesome and in the presence of greatness,” said Woodcroft, then a parish priest and now bishop of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land.

A flood of memories and an overwhelming sense of appreciation came to him after Tutu’s trust announced his death.

“At first, (I felt) a glancing blow of sadness for a really decent person dying and then a flood of gratitude,” said Woodcroft. “What part of this guy’s life can we use to make a better world?

“His example gives us great hope in directions forward and bringing peace and justice to the world.”

Tutu’s funeral will be Saturday at St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, where he campaigned for racial justice and equal rights.

Alongside his longtime friend Nelson Mandela, he was a giant in the movement against apartheid in South Africa.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his use of non-violent activism.

As the Anglican cleric brought his lessons and message of peace to Winnipeg, he made an unannounced visit to St. Paul’s.

It was arranged after congregation members read a Free Press article about the archbishop’s upcoming trip.

Woodcroft inquired about inviting Tutu to the church and, after discussions with the archbishop’s personal secretary, St. Paul’s welcomed him the following Sunday.

Officials decided to keep the visit a secret to all but a handful of people.

“It would cause a fervour and too many people in a small place,” said Woodcroft.

He was filled with excitement as he watched Tutu climb out of a car and make his way to the church.

“He just smiled and said, ‘I’m grateful to be here,’” said Woodcroft. “I’m thinking, ‘Shouldn’t it be me saying that?’”

Inside, Woodcroft suggested the archbishop take a seat in the centre of the sanctuary.

Tutu politely declined and insisted they sit together during the service.

The archbishop agreed to deliver words of greetings to the congregation and spoke for more than 15 minutes at a time when the world was focused on the war on terror in the Middle East after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Tutu mentioned then-U.S. president George W. Bush, then-British prime minister Tony Blair, 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden and former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in his address.

“It was a message of hopeful peace,” said Woodcroft. “The pinnacle moment for us was him saying, ‘For all people,’ and, ‘This means you, George, Tony, Osama and Saddam.’

“He said, ‘This peace is for leaders and those who are oppressed.’”

Following mass, Tutu spent time greeting parishioners one at a time and showed a clear desire to connect with people, said Woodcroft.

Officials from the diocese and St. Paul’s then took Tutu and his secretary for lunch, where they spent time speaking privately.

As they parted ways, Tutu offered a message that has never left Woodcroft.

“He gave us a blessing and it was not only that we continue, but we excel in striving for justice and peace among all people,” the bishop said. “His blessing was actually a call.”

Woodcroft believes Tutu and Mandela’s truth and reconciliation process likely had an indirect influence on Canada’s.

“They eradicated or fought against apartheid and had a whole country move against apartheid, which is very much what we are desiring and needing to do,” he said. “Desmond Tutu was one who never gave up bringing that message to light.

“You can’t afford to be complicit. You have to be fighting tyranny and that’s what God calls the church to do — to fight for the oppressed.”

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching